The molecular laboratories of the Teresita L. Jalandoni Provincial Hospital (TLJPH) in Silay City and Corazon Locsin Montelibano Memorial Regional Hospital (CLMMRH) in Bacolod City achieved 100 percent passing rates in the 2021 External Quality Assessment (EQA) on SARS-COV-2 Detection by Real-Time PCR conducted by the DOH – Research Institute for Tropical Medicine (RITM), officials announced Wednesday, July 7.
Dr. Julius Drilon, CLMMRH chief, said the 100 percent passing rate of the CLMMRH Molecular Laboratory indicates that it is at par with the quality standards set by national regulations thereby ensuring that all results generated are reliable.
The CLMMRH Molecular Laboratory is the first hospital-based Level 3 testing laboratory in the country. The other two Level 3 biosafety laboratories in the country are found at the RITM and the University of the Philippines-National Institutes of Health, he said.
The TLJPH Molecular Laboratory, which began full operation in June 2020, ensures faster turn-around time for swab results for early detection of COVID-19 infection, Provincial Administrator Rayfrando Diaz said.
Dr. Mary Ann Maestral, TLJPH officer-in-charge, heads the management of the Silay laboratory that operates 24 hours with three shifts.*